LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

February 1, 2022

Frida Kinhult

Crown Colony Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. If I heard right, you got in through a playoff yesterday.

FRIDA KINHULT: Correct.

Q. How did that go?

FRIDA KINHULT: No, it was fun. We were two at 4-under, and both par'd the first one and then managed to make a little birdie on the second, so...

It was good fun.

Q. Who was it against?

FRIDA KINHULT: Daniela...

Q. Darquea?

FRIDA KINHULT: Yeah, there we go.

Q. Just you two?

FRIDA KINHULT: Yeah, exactly, so because (indiscernible - wind) was done at 5-under, so...

Q. So how do you take -- Mondays are kind of like, I don't know, Monday is the most resented day of the week.

FRIDA KINHULT: Yeah.

Q. Like no one wants to play a Monday qualifier because it means you're not in the field. How did you take the day and turn it into a positive?

FRIDA KINHULT: Just try and do my best. Last Monday I had to drive six hours back home after Monday, so that was motivation to not do it again.

It was good fun. I mean, you never know with Monday; someone can go out and fire a 9-under and then you have to be on top.

You never know what's going to require, so I just try to go out there and be aggressive, and managed to get I think seven birdies in and three bogeys.

So, yeah, you just got to go for it on a Monday and just hope for the best. When it's just two spots you never know. But it was a good round. I'm happy to be here now.

Q. Yeah. Where is home for you?

FRIDA KINHULT: Tallahassee.

Q. Do you still practice with FSU?

FRIDA KINHULT: Yeah. So it's been super coming in just to stay there. They've been supportive. Even though I'm not like on the team they're helping out, so, yeah it's really nice to be able to stay there since I don't have like an American family or base here.

That's kind of turned into my home here, so it's nice.

Q. So you played the Gainbridge Monday qualifier as well. I guess with COVID and everything, how challenging has it been to be an Epson Tour graduate, a rookie out here, and still try to find your footing in the professional world as well? It's been just such a crazy turn of events with everything, and trying to really find your footing to get out onto the LPGA Tour.

FRIDA KINHULT: Yeah, and I'm just trying to make the best of it. Like first year obviously turned crazy with COVID, and then second year I got my LPGA status but I only played one LPGA.

Q. Last year?

FRIDA KINHULT: Last year, since like -- got changed from category 9 to 19. I think I would've been able to play four, but three of them were same time as Epson, and I didn't want to miss those opportunities out there, so I tried to focus last year again on the now Epson Tour to give myself as good chance as possible.

(Indiscernible - wind.) Got into Q-Series and now, yeah, on the priority list it looks quite a lot better than last year. Hopefully I'll get a decent schedule out here this year.

I mean, I think I'm like second or third on the reserve list this week if I wouldn't have got the Monday Q. So when they add another 24 players to the field, so it's full field again, yeah, hopefully I'll get into a full season out here.

Q. Yeah, how much, especially early in the season, was it about just taking advantage of each opportunity that you get?

FRIDA KINHULT: No, for sure. And with the reshuffle coming in as well it's an extra chance this week. Yeah, just trying to make the best out of it and see after the reshuffle what happens and hopefully get myself into a better position where I know I can play kind of the rest of it.

Obviously not majors, but have to qualify for these and then just get into the regular ones hopefully.

Q. And then will you play some Epson Tour events if the schedule allows?

FRIDA KINHULT: Yeah, for sure. I'm thinking maybe the one in Winter Haven, the first one, might be a good fit in the schedule. Longbow might be as well. It's not the same time as LPGA.

I mean, tournaments are good, but then if it's a packed schedule with the LPGA, maybe I need an off week here and there as well. Looks like a few will be a good fit. I mean it's a great tour, so why not just practice playing.

Q. How much different is the field to I guess when you go Epson Tour to out here and you kind of sometimes have that middle ground where you know you have to maybe Monday qualify? What's the process mentally? I guess the field as a competitor, how does that change?

FRIDA KINHULT: I mean, I've just played like on regular LPGA as far as I don't really know, but it's obviously the field is greater. That's why the best players are out here.

I mean, it's still the same sport, still the same like we start either Thursday here but Fridays on Epson, so you just got grind it out. Practice rounds, tournaments, it's the same sport, same thing, but obviously better, stronger fields out here.

So just trying to do my best and see what happens.

Q. Well turn it into a good week. Congrats.

FRIDA KINHULT: Thank you.